Not another New Zealand war book? Yes, and quite an unusual and weighty volume that summons up memories of World War 2 Kiwi troops who served in 2 New Zealand Division (known as ''The Div'').
More than 100,000 men did so.
John Gordon has gathered together the written words of more than 80 members of ''The Div''.
They are drawn from memoirs, fiction, news reports and magazine articles.
The reader is taken on a journey from the outbreak of war in 1939 through the campaigns in Greece, Crete, the Western Desert, El Alamein, Tripoli, Tunisia, early Italy, Cassino and points further north.
Not neglected are Maadi and the fleshpots of Cairo, as well as furlough in New Zealand.
This is a rich compendium in which are represented the words of well-known warriors, as well as less illustrious scribblers.
Most of these soldiers experienced the worst that all-out war could dish out.
It will be an insensitive reader who is not moved by the candid accounts of the writers' experiences on the battlefields.
Understatement is more than often the pervading sentiment in the prose of these Kiwi fighting men.
But the rigour and tragedy of valiant-fought campaigns is all too apparent.
This thick volume also includes a fine array of photographs and cartoons.
Yet another worthy addition to the collection of World War 2 books defining the unique ability and courage of your ordinary bloke, the Kiwi soldier.
• Clarke Isaacs is a former ODT chief of staff.
